1804 Eagle Patterns

About This Coin

With a combined mintage of merely 6 pieces, the 1804 Eagle Patterns rank among the most exclusive entries in American pattern coinage. Produced at the Philadelphia Mint, these explore experimental designs for the ten-dollar gold eagle during a year forever linked to numismatic legend — 1804 appears on the famous "King of American Coins," the Draped Bust silver dollar actually struck in the 1830s as a diplomatic presentation piece. The eagle denomination had been in production since 1795 but was suspended after 1804 (resuming only in 1838) because coins were being exported and melted for gold content, making 1804 the last year of the original eagle run. Patterns from this terminal year document experiments during the first-generation eagle's final production phase. With only 6 pieces produced, each survivor is individually significant, and auction appearances are exceedingly rare events attracting intense competition. The connection to the legendary 1804 date adds romantic association that enhances their already extreme numismatic importance.